Tehran’s foreign minister has made a tour of the region, where Russia and Turkey have become the dominant outside powers since the autumn war, leaving little room for Iran.
Together with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Nikol Pashinyan and Ilham Aliyev signed an agreement to create new transportation infrastructure aimed at “unblocking” the region’s many closed borders.
Azerbaijan said that its shooting down of a Russian helicopter was an accident. But now Russia reportedly wants the case to be investigated as a murder.
The new fighting was an early test for the Russian peacekeeping mission as it tries to manage a new, ambiguous de facto border that passes through populated areas.
An anti-government rally was broken up by police, who dragged away several of the leaders. Ruling party officials, meanwhile, are laying low since capitulating to Azerbaijan.
“The coming days will be decisive,” the de facto leader of Karabakh announced as Azerbaijani forces advanced toward Shushi. Baku may see the capture of the town as critical leverage to achieve a favorable political settlement.
Even while negotiations are continuing, it is clear that developments on the battlefield are driving events far more strongly than anything agreed over the negotiation table.
The truce, brokered by Russia, is aimed at allowing the two sides to exchange prisoners and bodies. It will be the first respite in nearly two weeks of fighting.
Azerbaijan has demanded a full withdrawal of Armenian forces, and Armenia is hinting it might formally recognize Nagorno-Karabakh as an independent country.
